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SUNDAY
MAY 27
2012

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 
THE BOB NEWHART SHOW

What is it about three-day holidays and TV marathons? Yesterday Hallmark offered a full day of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and today it's filling its daytime schedule with episodes of The Bob Newhart Show. But of all the marathons you could be watching today, this one — or, perhaps the mini-M*A*S*H-athon from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET on TV Land — is definitely the most worthy.
 
  
 
 
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise co-host this year’s National Memorial Day Concert, broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and featuring scheduled performances by Trace Adkins, Natalie Cole, Daughtry, tenor Russell Watson, American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez and the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jack Everly. 
 
  
 
 
HARRY'S LAW

NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET

SERIES FINALE: This episode of Harry's Law — in which Harry's ex-husband is found dead — may be called "Onward and Upward," but the show isn't going anywhere after tonight. As previously reported, NBC has cancelled the David E. Kelley law drama, despite the fact that it was one of the network's few ratings hits. You can get the full scoop about the show's demise in Ed Bark's excellent report HERE. Who knows — perhaps some other outlet that cares more about ratings then demographics will pick up Harry's Law, and keep it marching forward...
 
  
 
 
MERMAIDS: THE BODY FOUND

Animal Planet, 9:00 p.m. ET

I'm not sure if this qualifies as TV Worth Watching, since I haven't yet seen the two-hour program. But the premise that mermaids do exist, based on the testimony of scientists who not only swear they've found the remains of a sea creature with human characteristics, but insist that the government is hiding proof of their existence, is so off-the-wall that it might be worth watching just for sheer amusement. At the very least it provides a new conspiracy theory to bat around at tomorrow's family picnic.
 
  
 
 
MAD MEN

AMC, 10:00 p.m. ET

This weeks episode, "The Other Woman," brings a surprise female visitor to Don Draper, and considering his past it might not be a good surprise. Whomever it is, she'll probably be a force with which to be reckoned. The women of Mad Men — Peggy, Joan and Megan — are transforming into powerhouses this year — just as a whole generation of women did in the Sixties.
 
  
 
 
 
 
Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!
 
 
 
 
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260 Comments
 
 
Ken
If I'm not mistaken, today is Tuesday June 11th. Please update. I won't know what to watch tonight! Ken
Jun 11, 2013   |  Reply
 
Christy Slewinski
Hello, Ken. We're currently having technical issues with the site that are preventing us from updating our content. We have posted today's Best Bets on our Facebook and Tumblr pages: www.facebook.com/tvworthwatching or www.tvworthwatching.tumblr.com. Thanks for you patience!
Jun 11, 2013
 
 
 
wwwparker
Hey! This isn't the Game of Thrones Series Finale! It's the season finale!
You're inducing typo anxiety!
Jun 9, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Dennis Paul
Oops, 'In The Flesh' is on BBC America not Starz! I'm sure that was just an error on the part of the editing staff since Mr. Bianculli would never make such an error. Perhaps they are suffering from Partially Dead Syndrome (PDS).
Jun 8, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
David Brewster
I can't believe the CMT Awards were not noted tonight.
Jun 5, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Curtis
For me, Nina Conti and Monk stole the "For Your Consideration" movie (not an easy feat). Her audition video for the movie is hilarious. If I had HBO I'd be watching Guest's show.
Jun 3, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Sarah
If I had a talk show I would do it the same way as Graham Norton mostly because it is nice to have all the guests on at once, better them giving someone only 4 mintues to talk and plug their project.
May 30, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
purrplexed
How can you recommend a show that you admit to turning off? Why are you not recommending some of these great hockey and nba playoffs? You could be watching them when you turn off the Voice.
May 28, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Eileen
As Liberace would say, Syfy is "crying all the way to the bank." I hope whoever makes up those movie titles is well paid -- they are just hilarious. Even better than the NY Post, and that's saying something!
May 27, 2013   |  Reply
 
Patrick
Agreed. The trailer for "Sharktopus" was posted on this very site a few years ago. I almost died laughing watching it. Multiple times.
Jun 9, 2013
 
 
 
Neil
Not that this error is a showstopper, but in today's Best Bet for Two and a Half Men, wasn't this episode after Charlie's [Sheen] exit and Walden's [Ashton Kutcher] introduction? And yes, it's great to see Kandi back in a delightfully loopy episode, in a series that's otherwise been in a slow descent for at least a couple of seasons now.
May 23, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Mac
Fridays in May have been really interesting on TCM.Rather than concntrate on things essential,host Illeana Douglas has been finding films that fell between the cracks,yet deserve a second look.Not quite Underground,these films are pretty much mainstream,which is part of the charm as to how they got made and never found an audience.Anytime TCM spools "Ace In The Hole",Billy Wilder's lost classic,is a night to rejoice.Ace is only available on a pricy,but worthwhile,Criterion set.
May 17, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Jay Kogen
David,
My name is Jay Kogen. I'm an Emmy Award winning writer/producer from The Simpsons and Frasier. I'm making a new show called "Wendell & Vinnie" which I'm trying to make a smart show for adults that kids can watch too. I'm trying to break the mold at Nickelodeon and I've been trying to get you to review my show. Good or bad, let's get it out there. This week's episode "Pick Ups & Drop Offs" is a typical one. It's got parent/child issues at the center and many adult jokes spread around. I wrote to you months ago and got no reply. I hear you on Fresh Air and even though I don't know that you'll love my show, I want to hear your opinion. Anyway, cheers and thanks. Jay.
May 17, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Dennis Paul
Thing I find funny about the Office is that it took 10 years to get a documentary made. They should have just made a reality show and it would have been on all this time and then a documentary about making the reality show. I just gave myself a headache.
May 16, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Maggie in NJ
Thanks for saying something nice about "Nashville". "Nashville" and "Vegas" were my must-watch shows of this season.
May 15, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Brian Becker
Yesterday I was watching an episode of Crackle's "Chosen" on Roku. Today the entire series is gone, vanished. Even a search on their site momentarily provides results and then shows no results. It's a mystery almost befitting the show itself. Any idea why? Thanks.
May 13, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Re: Doctor Who on May 11, 2013 on BBC America. Tonight's episode is NOT the season finale of Doctor Who - that's on May 18, 2013 with the episode of 'The Name of the Doctor.'
May 11, 2013   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Dear Kelly: You're right, and I'm wrong. Sorry -- and thanks for pointing it out so politely.
May 12, 2013
 
 
 
Bill Evans
Hey, David B., I used to work with you at the Gainesville Sun back when we were at the 'historic' downtown site. Love your work! I remember your start with the Sun's primitive TV Week. FYI, I'm at the Gainesville CBS-TV affiliate. Drop me a line....
May 10, 2013   |  Reply
 
David Bianculli
Bill -- What a hoot! Glad to hear you're still in Gainesville. I'll have someone to visit if the university ever brings me back. Have your people call my people. (I don't have people, but it sounds good.)
May 12, 2013
 
 
 
Justin
NHL Playoffs > NBA Playoffs
May 8, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
sandra spring
Thanks to you I hung in with Orphan Black. Original and riveting!!
May 4, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
jan
While I have not yet seen "The Gold Diggers of 1933," I have seen both the musical numbers you mentioned. You're right: "Remember My Forgotten Man" is unforgettable, and the other is just a lot of fun. In fact, after seeing "Remember My Fogotten Man," I immediately purchased the DVD of the movie just to have it. Maybe soon I will actually have the time to watch the whole film (after this semester is over).
May 4, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
Neil
This is on the trivial side, but the former Mets knuckleballer is "R. A. Dickey" (not "R. J.").
May 1, 2013   |  Reply
 
 
 
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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

Behind David in the picture is the first TV owned by his father, Virgil Bianculli, a 1946 Raytheon. (The TV, not his father. His father was a 1923 Italian.) David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He also teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University, and his most recent book, 2009's Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, has recently been purchased for film rights.  He's currently at work on another.
 
 
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